Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 masterpiece North by Northwest stands as perhaps the director's most brilliantly absurd and comically ambitious work, featuring what many consider to be one of Cary Grant's most underrated performances.
The Perfect Hitchcockian Storm
Imagine yourself as Roger Thornhill, a handsome and successful advertising executive enjoying a peaceful afternoon in 1950s New York. Your world turns upside down when you're abruptly kidnapped from the Plaza Hotel by two impeccably dressed gentlemen who insist you're someone called George Kaplan. This mistaken identity sets in motion what becomes Hitchcock's most delightfully ridiculous and visually stunning film.
Released in 1959, following Hitchcock's other Technicolor triumphs including Rear Window and Vertigo, the film demonstrates a director operating at the peak of his creative powers. All the classic Hitchcock elements are present: Cary Grant as the charismatic lead, an inexplicable MacGuffin (the mysterious George Kaplan), the director's signature cameo, and the enigmatic blonde played by the captivating Eva Marie Saint.
Grant's Comedic Genius
Cary Grant's portrayal of Roger Thornhill represents what many film scholars consider one of the most underrated comedic performances of the 20th century. Grant masterfully plays the character as a bronzed, well-dressed Homer Simpson, blindly stumbling into every trap while maintaining an air of sophisticated bewilderment.
Despite every character he encounters clearly working against him, Thornhill remains perpetually surprised by each new betrayal. His attempts to talk his way out of increasingly dangerous situations create a perfect blend of suspense and comedy that keeps audiences simultaneously anxious and amused.
Absurdity as Art Form
The film's most celebrated sequences, including the famous cornfield airplane chase and the Mount Rushmore climax, defy logical explanation. Why would villains choose to chase a man with a crop-dusting plane rather than simply shooting him? Why would anyone find themselves free-climbing a national monument while dodging bullets from Abraham Lincoln's stone nose?
The answer lies in Hitchcock's masterful understanding of cinema. As long as it looks spectacular and maintains high stakes, logical consistency becomes secondary. The director proves that visual splendour and narrative tension can make audiences accept even the most improbable scenarios.
Remarkably, despite being produced during the restrictive Hays Code era, North by Northwest contains more sexual tension than many modern blockbusters. The chemistry between Grant and Saint simmers throughout their train compartment scenes, culminating in cinema's most famous visual innuendo as the film concludes with a train entering a tunnel.
North by Northwest remains available for streaming on HBO Max in Australia and can be rented in both the UK and US markets. The film continues to captivate new generations with its unique blend of suspense, comedy, and visual innovation.
